Good help is hard to find. Like most cliches, the saying came from somewhere. Most business owners will agree, good help IS hard to find, but if your business is at the point where you need to add to the team, then you will need to hire new people. Knowing what to look for in an employee could be instrumental in tending to your best bottom line.
It doesn’t matter if the quality of your website pops from every pixel or you have the best widget this side of Wisconsin, it is the people you hire who can have the most impact on your bottom line.
How do you know who to hire?
Employees, like people in general, tend to come in two varieties: the self-starter who understands what to do the first time they’re told (if they need to be told at all) and does it with a smile on their face, or the dependent who requires direction at every turn and consolation after every mistake.
Of course, these black and white examples also come with countless shades of gray in between, but being able to classify an employee before they punch their first timecard could save you tons of time and money.
Look for these four things before you hire your next employee.
1) I know I can attitude. This type of positive mindset can be an excellent indicator of future success. Ask your potential employee what they would do in a difficult situation and then listen not only to their answer, but the enthusiasm they place behind it. Those people who believe they can, most often do.
2) Emotionally grounded. Is the employee you are interviewing appear to be emotionally stable? Do they seem happy, sad, indifferent? Look to hire an employee with an even temperament. Employees who find themselves easily discouraged or up and down in mood, are often the same employees who fall victim to over-stress and burnout.
3) Ownership. Give your employees an example scenario where they have a problem to solve due to their own error, then ask them to provide their perspective. Are they willing to take ownership of their work, or did they only point to reasons why things didn’t go their way. Ownership is fundamental to growth. Always look for the employee who wants to know what they can do better.
4) Confidence. Though the line between arrogance and confidence can be paper thin, it is never missing. A confident employee can mean money in the bank, an arrogant employee can be a nightmare. Read between the lines as your applicant is answering questions. Can you see them pitching in when their teammates are in need, or does your instinct say that they will always think they know best?
Employees can mean a lot to your business, making sure you have the right one can mean everything to your bottom line.
